Yorkshire Division Three: Baildon 6 Old Otliensians 12

FROM being one of the youngsters when Baildon played at Twickenham in successive RFU Junior Vase finals in 2012 (beat Harrow 6-3) and 2013 (lost 58-29 to Newent), Dale Tabiner is definitely one of the old guard now, despite being only 26.

But those figures don't even tell half the story of the Jenny Laners and their hooker over the past four years.

After those visits to HQ, a significant proportion of the Baildon side either retired or moved to other clubs, so much so that only Tabiner, prop Joe Robinson, flanker James Fox, fly half JJ O'Connell and centre Marcus Dracup remained on Saturday of those who trod the sacred turf at TW2 7BA.

But even that doesn't tell Tabiners's story.

He explained: "I had to pack in rugby two and a half years ago after having four mini strokes.

"They did all kind of tests to try and find out what was wrong with me, but eventually said that I could carry on playing as long as I wore a head-guard.

"I used to go up and watch the team but it was killing not being able to play.

"I even ran the second team for a season but packed that in for the same reason.

"Then I got the all clear and have been training since just before the new year and have been playing since new year.

"I am only 75 per cent fit at the moment but it unbelievable to be playing again.

"I am now one of the more experienced players among a lot of youngsters, and if we stay together I believe that we can go places."

For the moment, however, the main concern for Baildon is staying in Yorkshire Division Three.

Two go down, and one could be Bramley Phoenix, who have been deducted 25 points because of their poor disciplinary record and failing to fulfil a fixture to drop to third from bottom, and further sanctions may be pending due to recent red cards.

If that happens and the Leeds club are basically relegated on the back of unruly behaviour, relegation rivals such as Baildon and Aireborough, who visit Jenny Lane on March 5, could well be safe as the other demotion berth seems likely to go to Rotherham Phoenix, who are currently bottom, nine points from safety.

As for Old Otliensians, they have played four games less than Baildon (15 compared to 19) and are pushing for a top-six finish.

Backlog apart, their main problems are injuries.

Their coach John Walker said: "We have had four of five first-team regulars with long-term injuries this season, such as Luke Cowdell and Luke Freer, and added to that list now is Josh Howarth, who has dislocated a collar-bone for the second time.

"We have only played four games since November 21, and definitely showed some ring rust, but the lads also like playing in the Aire-Wharfe Cup in midweek."

Otliensians have appeared in the last three finals, winning it in 2013 before being runners-up in 2014 and 2015.

Baildon have also suffered their fair share of injuries, chiefly in the reverse fixture, which Otliensians won 49-5 in October, but back in action here was hooker Tom Massey off the bench, with Tabiner adding: "It is great to see Tom back and good to have competition."

The derby against Baildon was moved from the first-team pitch to the significantly drier second-team pitch on the agreement of both captains, and the visitors soon showed that they had the physical edge in the pack, led by lock Rob Arbuckle.

Baildon left winger Luke Strauss then showed some fancy footwork tight to the touchline before putting in a grubber kick.

However, the visitors were the first to break the deadlock in the 14th minute when full back Will Cooper broke down the right wing before passing to winger Howarth, who put No 8 Sam Featherstone over for a try, fly half Kristian Keinhorst adding the conversion.

With any home attacks being thwarted by errors, be they loose passes or knock ons, a Baildon knock on near their line preceded Old Otliensians' second try in the 27th minute.

The visitors pushed Baildon back at a scrum, and it was well controlled for Featherstone to dive over for a pushover try, Keinhorst's conversion attempt just going wide of the far upright.

O'Connell's probing kick to the left corner almost brought the hosts some reward as an Otliensians defender could not claim the ball under pressure, and O'Connell then ended a promising passage of play by being pulled up for a forward pass.

The first half ended with Keinhorst missing a penalty four minutes into injury time following a high tackle.

Baildon, now with the advantage of a breeze, showed up better in the second half, O'Connell and right winger Nathan King leading a promising counter-attack before O'Connell kicked a penalty from near the right touchline in the 47th minute.

The visitors then lost Howarth injured, O'Connell pulling a penalty wide from between the 22 and the ten-metre line in the 57th minute after a high tackle on the whole-hearted Tabiner.

Then it was Otliensians' turn to suffering from knock ons before Luke Strauss kicked ahead down the left touchline, only for two visitors to block his path.

With Otliensians centre Ollie Eaves in the sin--bin for persistent offside in the 68th minute, O'Connell's second penalty four minutes later raised the prospect of a Baildon victory but they also ended up with a yellow card, No 8 Harrison Strauss taking a breather in the 78th minute for persistently offending at the breakdown.

The visitors then saw proceedings out calmly enough to claim their seventh league win of the season and climb one spot to seventh.